A Letter

To the Gods and Goddesses in charge of vacations and getaways:


I don't know whose 'funny' idea it was to answer my plea for a short vacation from my mothering duties in such a way. Making me too sick  to complete my mothering duties isn't what I had in mind. As you well know, being sick made me unable to enjoy my 'time away' the way I had in mind. Not only that, but I still had to nurse the baby and help make a Valentine's box. 


I get your point. You're letting me know that I should just be grateful that I am generally in good enough health to do the things my kids need me to do. That I should appreciate the fact that every single day isn't as hard as today. Okay, I understand. 


I don't want to burn any bridges here, but I'm writing this letter to let you know it sucked. Rocks. I'm not willing to count this at all, no matter the fact that I got to get out of a lot of my normal duties. I still expect my getaway and I expect it to be a doozie (in a good way). 


Thank you.

Friday Favorites from a Swiss Cheese Brain

Edith is still miserable as she works on getting her top front teeth. Sleep isn't going very well for her, which means it's not so great for me, either. It has turned my brain to swiss cheese so I have no idea what I did this week. Can I be done now? No? Okay, let me think...

1. We went as a family to Nordstrom to get Pen fitted for a bra. It was stellar. I know I'm such a mean mom, but I loved every minute of it. Ginger and I admired all the cute bras and talked about which styles Ginger might like to get someday (she was bummed she's not at the point to be measured yet), Rophone scoped out cute things for me, and the boys counted all the different animal prints (17 cheetah, 3 zebra, 8 leopard....). We all had a ball and Pen was mortified. 

I'm not really mean enough that I meant to do it that way, but Nordstom is closing up shop in our town and the bra fitter I use there is fantastic-- since we were at the mall it just made sense to get it done. I loved that all most of the kids were so comfortable with it all, and even Pen loosened up eventually and was glad I took her to such a fabulous woman to get her taken care of. I just love that our family can even have a great time together while we shop for bras.

2. Bud is still having a blast doing art. He is so comfortable in the art world. I'm sad he only has one more day before the session ends. I love how when he gets to do something independently his confidence just blossoms. He is proud of all of the art he has created and I can't wait to put more of it on display.

3. On Wednesday the computers were down at Rophone's work, so he came home for the day at about 10 am. I had just finished eating my last bite of breakfast (I never seem to get a chance to eat earlier than that, but I wish I could) when we were surprised to hear the garage door opening. Big exclaimed, "Dad's here! He's home for lunch." I yelped, "But I just finished breakfast!" Thank goodness Rophone was actually home for the day. I think I could get used to a 2 hour work day. We took Big and Edith and ran some errands and really enjoyed being together. It was fabulous. 

4. Because Rophone worked last Sunday, he was able to work only a half day today. This has been a great week for some together-time. I could sooo get used to it. 

5. While Ginger was at a birthday party tonight Rophone and I went on a quick (and free!) date. We just can't seem to get enough of each other. That's a good thing, by the way. 

All in all, it was a fabulous week. What I can remember of it anyway. 

Eleven, or So

It has taken me a week to get to writing this post about Ginger's birthday. It's all my fault, really. I forgot to take my camera to the bowling alley for her friend birthday party (insert gasp here), so I had to wait for the bowling alley folks to send me the photo they snapped. I was a really dismal picture taker this year. I didn't get many pictures of the festivities on her actual birthday day, and then missed all the fun dancing and bowling pictures of Ginger with her friends at her bowling party. Lame, I know. 


It was a really fun birthday, though. I don't think Ginger has much to complain about. Well, except for the lack of pictures to document it...  I usually err on the understated side when it comes to decorations, but this year I decided to mend my ways. Not having to plan a party helped. Plus, I'm in love with Pinterest-- it has given me crafty powers! (Not crafty as in sly, of course, although it's entirely possible that I am a little of that, too.) My name is Crafty Crafterson, and I am a stellar craft (and decorating!) copier! 


When I say that I err on the understated side when it comes to decorations, I'm not kidding. What I did this year wasn't even anything too grand, but it was sufficient to elicit an actual gasp from Ginger as she entered the room on her birthday morning. I must admit that I gained enough satisfaction from her reaction to want to do it again for our next party. I might even go grander. (Rein yourself in, Ms. Crafterson!)

It looks a little weird in the kitchen without the chairs around the table, but they were playing the role of a big rig in the family room. See?

A few years ago my sister made us the great banners from some old fabric scraps, so it's easy to decorate for parties. I love them, but I'm glad I added a little more this year. Hey! There's my prom dress!

Ginger requested her favorite curried butternut squash soup for dinner, so I made it. What a nice mom I am. And since we had a bunch of family coming over, I whipped up some cauliflower soup, too. With some green salad and crusty bread on the side it was all mighty tasty.


The opening of presents is always a highlight-- especially for the person whose birthday it is. 

This next photo is a little odd, but I swear Ginger has actual fingers on her left hand and not just little stubs. 

This next card contains a 'coupon' for some new sneakers. She can't seem to stop growing.

She really did like this next gift. It was the pictures that she didn't particularly like, I think.

I kind of failed once again when it comes to taking pictures of the whole cake thing. I got just a few of her blowing out the candles...

...and completely forgot to take a picture of the cake when it was cut. It may look like a perfectly, boringly ordinary cake, but I once again got a surprised and delighted gasp out of Ginger when she saw that one layer of the cake was pink and one purple. I love surprising people. 


On friday Ginger celebrated at the bowling alley with a few of her friends. They had a blast. The girls got to request their favorite songs to be played as they bowled so they had fun dancing, singing and bowling (I was so proud to be Ginger's mother when her friends were requesting David Archuleta and some Hamster Dance song thing, but Ginger was requesting songs by Heart and Them Crooked Vultures. Way to go, Ginger!) With cake pops and soda to enjoy as they bowled, it really was a fun party. 


Here's the picture of Ginger and her friends that the nice hostess at the bowling alley snapped:

Happy Birthday, Ginger! Hope you love Eleven!

Another One

I have children who suffer from some disassociation with reality when it comes to their age. There is a major disconnect between their true age and the 'age' they view themselves to be. I mean, they know their age. Their number. But it just doesn't seem to occur to them that that means anything. 


I realized this was the case with Pen when she was 3 1/2 and was admitted to preschool. The poor girl didn't know what she was going to teach the children. It came as such a shock to her when I informed her that she was going to be one of the students and not a teacher. 


Then there's Big. He is quite convinced that it is his mother that is holding him back from being able to pursue his construction career. The fact that he was 3 years old when he accused me of such means absolutely nothing. Age is just a number, after all.


As I was unloading the dishwasher just now, Edith eagerly crawled over to 'help' me out. As she approached I said aloud, "Uh-oh. Looks like the baby is coming to give me a hand." Edith actually stopped mid-crawl to look behind her to see who I was talking about. 


Looks like I've birthed another one.

Prison Break

Like all babies, Edith loves to be naked. I let her roam free for a few minutes the other day before I got her in the bath. Well, free as in naked, anyway. To her chagrin, she still wasn't truly free.

She kept looking down to admire her nakedness.

But then Edith noticed that my camera was admiring her nakedness, too. She seemed shocked that I had the gall! And now I'm posting the pictures on my blog, poor kid. I just couldn't resist.

It's time to make a break for it.

In a minute after she admires herself again, that is.

Edith really wants to get to that dangerous spiral staircase, though. Let's see, what's the best method of escape? Undoing the latch?

No, way too hard from this angle. Better try something else.

Oh, yeah. That'll work Edith. Keep at it. 

Friday Favorites

1. After Ginger's game last Saturday (they won!) we went to the big city as a family. We got Edith a new sheet for her crib and managed to find a second bunny sleeping toy for her, too (just in case something happens to the first). Edith really loves her bunny (or, Bunby, as she calls it), so I'm glad we could get a backup. Not that she thinks they're the same, but in an emergency she might forgive it. The main reason we made the trip was to go to Whole Foods. We got some fabulous produce and other groceries to take home. Num.


2. Sunday, I made some chicken and dumpling soup. But instead of chicken I added veggies. It was my first try, but it must have been successful since Ginger took it in her lunch the next day and then asked me tonight when we could have it again. 


3. Big started basketball this week. Heaven. That's where this boy was while he was there. It made him so happy to finally get to play in a somewhat organized fashion. I say somewhat organized, because these are 4 and 5 year olds we're talking about here. At this age they just kind of learn skills by doing a bunch of activities at different stations. Big was bummed at first that they wouldn't be playing games, but when we told him it's just like basketball practice that the pros do he was fine. More than fine. He loves it. It was fun to hear him tell me about what he did while he was there, and he loves the time with his dad. Thanks for taking him, Rophone!


4. This winter has been declared by me to be 'The Winter of Soup' and I'm loving it. Along with the chicken and dumpling soup from Sunday, I also made butternut squash curry soup and cauliflower soup this week. They were all fabulous. I think so, anyway. I love having leftover soup for lunch. I did it today and will do it again tomorrow. And then I'm going to make another soup on Sunday. 'The Winter of Soup' rocks!


5. The reason I made the butternut squash and cauliflower soups this week was for Ginger's  family birthday party. Ginger turned 11 yesterday! Definitely a favorite. She got to have a bowling party with some friends today, too. I really enjoyed seeing Ginger interact with her friends at the bowling alley. I think she had a great time.


6. I was really proud of the decorations I pulled together for Ginger's birthday (with Rophone's help). I guess you could say my efforts at birthday decorating usually err a little too much on the understated side, so I was glad when Ginger came in the room yesterday morning and what I had done elicited a gasp of surprise and delight. And, yes, I'll post pictures when I write about Ginger's party later this weekend.


7. While I was with Ginger at her bowling birthday party, something grand happened-- Bud learned to ride a two-wheeler! We tried to teach him last summer, but the lack of control Bud felt he had over the process made him anxious. So, we got Bud a balance bike in November (it was originally going to be for Christmas, but with the mild weather we were having we wanted him to be able to take advantage of it so we changed plans) and he has been practicing on the driveway and even in the yard. I knew he was comfortable when I caught him riding it cross-country through the bushes. 


Balance bikes are the best! With his balance bike, Bud was able to figure out the balancing thing completely on his own, and since he was in total control there was no anxiety. It really took him no time at all. So, Friday, when Rophone finally got the tires on his regular bike pumped up again, he just hopped on and took off riding. No drama or anything. Just perfect. Bud looks like he's been doing it for ages. He's having such a blast.


8. Rophone and I went on a little date tonight after the younger kids were in bed. I sure do love me some time with my honey. 


It's been a long week but a good one. Can't wait to see what next week brings!

Eleven Months with Edith

In the past month Edith has changed a ton. Her hair is getting thicker, she's getting taller, she says more words, she has finally gotten over her nervousness about pulling herself up to standing, she's developed a teenage attitude... All signs that she's getting older.

Edith has added several more words to her arsenal and can say Ginger's name better and better every day. I think my favorite new word of hers is 'saw'. I guess that's what happens when you have a worker guy like Big around. It's the tool he always lets Edith use, since she tends to shove the wrenches, screwdrivers, and hammer handle too far into her mouth so she gags. It's not very much fun to play with someone who's making constant gagging noises. 


I love it that sometimes when we walk up to Edith she'll say, "Hi, Baby". Guess she's heard that a few times before. Oh, and Edith has begun calling me by my first name on occasion. When she's tired or hungry it's always 'Mom', but in casual conversation she tends to refer to me by my actual name. A little earlier than the other kids have tried it out, but whatever.

Edith is also beginning to make more sound effects-- she can roar like a lion and makes car sounds when she plays with vehicles. She still loves to sing-- she joins in during the hymns at church, and she'll often crawl over to the cold air return here at home and strum it like an instrument as she sings. I love it. She attempts to sing 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star', doing the motions as she goes. It's so cute when she tries to make a diamond shape with her little fingers. 


Looking outside at what's going on in the yard is one of Edith's favorite pastimes. 

Although, Edith's love of doing that is usually eclipsed by her love of looking at herself when she notices her reflection in the window. Better give that cute baby a kiss.

*(Tired baby warning for the rest of the pictures in this post. I had to make her stay awake until after we had picked up Big from school. Some heavy eyes and a bit of attitude may be in evidence.)

Edith is a bit obsessed with balls. Especially her dad's basketball that she calls a 'ball-ball'. 

Once she gets her hands on it, she doesn't want to let it go. It can make doing some things a bit difficult.

After some wrangling, though, and some brief panicked moments when I had to remove the ball from her hands, I finally got Edith dressed. Let's take a few photos of how cute you look, Edith!

After about 3 more photos the whole exercise seems to have lost it's luster. She looks thrilled, doesn't she?

I swear that she just asked, "Are you done yet?" No, no Edith, I'm not. We've just barely started. You're going to be so happy with me. We have 15 more minutes until we go get Big from school. Why don't you stand here at this window and I'll take some photos while we wait. You can show everybody that scrunched up face you've been working on. You kind of scrunched your face up in the first photo in the chair, but I think you can do better. 


"Are you serious, Mom? Do I really have to? I'm tired."

"I'd really rather just pick the grout...

...and look outside...

...and, hey! I wonder if this will provide my gums any relief?"

You can do better than that, Edith. Work it, girl!

(We pause for a brief baby zone-out due to exhaustion)...

Okay, back at it.


"What?"

"Really, Mom? I'm disappointed in you. You're such a slave driver."

I know, Edith. I'm sorry, but we still have 5 minutes to kill. Smize for me! (smile with your eyes, for those not in the know)

Okay, that felt more like an attempt to kill me with your deadly glare than a smize, but we can work on it at another time. Why don't you just be yourself.

Okaaay. Never mind. Hey, it's time to go! 


"Really, Mom?"

Really. Let's go get, Big. Happy Eleven Month, Edith, we love you.